Chickens
We raise Black Australorp chickens here on the farm. We hatch our own eggs and raise the birds ourselves, from chick to laying hen.
Now taking pre-orders for day-old chicks and hens 5 months and older. We expect the first birds to be ready in early February 2027, depending on how many pre-orders we get. See how to pre-order.
About Black Australorps
The Australorp comes from Australia. Between about 1890 and 1900, Australian poultry keepers imported Black Orpingtons from England. In England the Orpington was being bred for the table, but the Australians bred theirs for laying. By the early 1920s the new bird had its own name, Australorp, from "Australian" and "Orpington." The American Poultry Association recognized the breed in 1929.
Australorps made their name by laying. In a 1922–23 laying trial in Victoria, a pen of six hens laid 1,857 eggs in a year, an average of about 310 each. One Australorp hen is recorded as laying 364 eggs in 365 days. A backyard hen won't keep up with that, but 250 or more eggs a year is typical.
They're active but gentle, and friendly, even the roosters. That makes them a good breed for families and for kids raising birds for 4-H. They get along with other calm breeds, and the hens are generally good sitters and mothers.
At a Glance
| Eggs | 250 or more a year. Light brown, medium to large. |
|---|---|
| Size | Roosters about 8½ pounds, hens about 6½ pounds |
| Looks | Black feathers with a green sheen in the sun, a red single comb, dark slate legs, and pinkish-white soles on the feet |
| Temperament | Active, gentle, and friendly |
| Good for | Eggs, families, and youth shows such as 4-H |
Keeping Australorps in Southwest Missouri
- Summer heat: Black feathers soak up the sun, so give them plenty of shade in hot weather. Missouri summers make this important.
- Winter: They hold up well through our winters.
- Room to roam: They're fine in a coop and run, but they enjoy foraging. Birds kept shut in all the time tend to get fat, so let them out to scratch when you can.
What We Offer
- Day-old chicks: Black Australorp chicks hatched here on the farm.
- Hens, 5 months and older: Young Black Australorp hens raised here on the farm.
- Eggs: Unfertilized eggs from our flock, for eating. See Chicken Eggs.
How to Pre-Order
Our flock is small, so a pre-order is the best way to make sure you get birds. We don't take orders or payments on this website. Here's how it works:
- Send us a message, or message us on Facebook (opens in a new tab). Tell us whether you'd like chicks or hens, and how many.
- We'll reply with prices and when your birds should be ready.
- We'll send you a Square payment link by email, text, or Facebook Messenger, whichever you prefer.
Sources
Breed information on this page was checked against this public reference: